Written & demonstrated by Dr. Ramiz Mondal (MVSC) & Dr. Samina Parveen (MVSC)
Cryptorchidism is the scientific term for when a dog’s testicles (either one or both) do not descend. In this situation, the testicle(s) remain within the body instead of being located in the scrotum as usual.. This may seem like a natural occurrence that doesn’t cause a lot of concern. Yet, this is a serious issue that can cause serious problems if not corrected.
Cryptorchidism in dogs
In some cases, there is another area where the testicle may be. This is in the groin area under the skin, called subcutaneous tissue. The area is similar though; it is still located between the scrotum and inguinal canal. While this can happen to any male dog, there are certain breeds that seem to happen more often. It seems that smaller dogs like miniature or toy dogs have more instances of cryptorchidism.
Why Does It Happen?https://maps.app.goo.gl/K3jhquGxJ8vR3bAN6
The roots of this health issue lie in genetics. The significance of avoiding breeding a cryptorchid dog lies in the transmission of the related genes. In some cases, the male dog with this genetic disorder cannot breed anyway due to being sterile. This health issue is prevalent among dogs suffering from bilateral cryptorchidism. What this means is that both testicles did not descend and in many cases, the dog cannot reproduce because sperm cells cannot form properly. This is due to the body’s temperature being too high.
Genetic factors may not be the primary cause, according to some research. Instead, it may be an anomaly that affects one puppy out of a litter due to something that happened during pregnancy. Whether it is hereditary or it is environmental, there is no way to prevent it from happening. The dog owner simply has to treat it if their dog has it. The only way to ensure that another dog does not get it is to not breed under any circumstances.
What Complications Does It Cause?
Pain and other disease symptoms are uncommon in this condition. However, acute onset of abdominal pain generally indicates that the spermatic cord of the retained testes has become twisted, cutting off the blood supply to the testis. These tests have a tendency to produce tumors, which display feminine symptoms. The incidence of testicular cancer in dogs with a diagnosed condition is approximately ten times higher than in dogs without it. The risk of testicular torsion exists, meaning the testicle may become unattached.
How can one tell if it is this?
Finding out if a dog has cryptorchidism is pretty simple but is more than just a visual check. Abdominal ultrasound or radiographs (X-rays) allow the vet to see where the testicle is located in the dog’s body.
It may be necessary to conduct hormone tests in specific situations. This is when a male dog seems to have female behaviors or the dog does not have testicles yet acts like a male. An HCG test is the best option for verifying if a dog has undergone neutering. There is a test that is less complex where your veterinarian can check for penile spines which are dependent on testosterone and will disappear 6 weeks after neutering. There is one instance where a physical examination can identify this disorder. With the testis located in the inguinal canal, rays and ultrasounds become essential for examining the more distant abdominal structures.
What are the Statistics?
This disorder affects about 1-3% of all dogs. As mentioned, any breed of dog can get it. Yet, smaller, toy, and miniature dogs have it more often. These at-risk dogs include Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Poodles. Most cases only involve one undescended testicle. This is in about 75% of the cases of cryptorchidism. The other 25 percent is when both testicles do not descend as they should.
What are the Symptoms?
Signs of cryptorchidism may not be readily apparent. There shouldn’t be pain unless there are complications. One such complication is spermatic cord torsion. This is when the testicle twists onto itself. This particular symptom can cause bad abdominal pain that seems to come about suddenly.
Another complication is cancer. Testicular cancer is more common than spermatic cord torsion, which is more rare. Infertility is yet another symptom of this disorder. This depends if one or both testicles did not descend. When both testicles remain undescended in a dog, it results in infertility. Only a descent results in the ability to produce testosterone. Up close inspection revealed a noticeable difference in size between the two testicles. As mentioned before, if a dog is exhibiting male behavior with no sign of testicles, this is an indicator of cryptorchidism.
Treatment or Correction for Cryptorchidism?
- Find out if the disorder is bilateral or unilateral.
- What is the sequence of events when undergoing neutering for a dog?
- Is it inguinal or abdominal?
The only treatment is to have your dog neutered (i.e. both testicles removed). Cryptorchid neuters are more involved in surgery since it may involve an incision in the abdomen and a longer surgery time. Your veterinarian may recommend an overnight stay depending upon the specific procedure. Your dog’s recovery takes approximately 10 -14 days and requires restricted activity.
This ensures that he will heal faster. Keep the surgery area from being chewed or licked during healing. A veterinarian may conduct a procedure to relocate an undescended testicle into the scrotum. This is not a procedure that is ethical and should never be done. While some people may not want to neuter their dog, it is important for those with this disorder. This is because it eliminates the genetic defect and the dog’s lineage won’t have it passed down to them. Another reason is that these dogs will still have the same characteristics as those that are intact. This means dealing with aggression, urine marking, and more. But the most important reason to neuter is that there is a 10 times greater risk for a dog with cryptorchidism to develop testicular cancer.
Conclusion
The main thing is that if your dog has this genetic disorder, it can be treated. Dogs that had this routine surgery early in their lives have an excellent prognosis. Early detection and neutering of a dog with this disorder usually prevents complications.
Cryptorchidism is not a death sentence but with a diagnosis, it should be treated by a professional.